Taiwan's Taiwan People's Party is pouring resources into Taichung ahead of year-end local elections, signaling a working alliance with the KMT that could reshape the mayoral race.

• The TPP held its central committee meeting in Taichung and will stage a governance forum there on Aug. 30.
• Ko Wen-je, party chairman Huang Kuo-chang, and KMT Taichung mayoral candidate Chiang Chi-chen will all attend, effectively confirming a blue-white tie-up in the city.
• Ko took 30% of Taichung's vote in the last presidential race, giving the party a real base to build on.
• The TPP has six city council candidates in Taichung and believes several are gaining ground, enough to possibly form a council caucus.

Outlook: With under 100 days to the election, expect the TPP to keep concentrating its campaign firepower on Taichung and to lean harder into cooperation with the KMT.